The River Gee County Health Team has spoken of the smaller number of trained medical personnel being assigned in the county.
The Team expressed concern over the insufficient number of trained medical personnel assigned to government-operated health facilities.
They said, such assignment has undermined efforts to provide effective healthcare services to the influx of patients.
County Health Team Administrator, Dedesco Gweh, made the disclosure on Tuesday, October 6, during a meeting with members of the 55th joint committee of the legislature on health.
The meeting was hosted in Fish Town, the political capital. Gweh said, the smaller number of trained medical personnel is being felt at almost every public health facility. The situation, Gweh said, particularly affects only referral hospital, where only two medical doctors are assigned to serve the increasing number of patients.
He also identified a lack of professional midwives, nurses, physician assistants, and other specialized medical personnel as additional challenges that have placed considerable demands on the available workforce.
On the account of the health workers, Gweh disclosed how the county Health Team has 331 employees, of whom 227 are trained health professionals, including midwives, nurses, physician assistants, medical doctors, and other ‘none-essential staff.’
He added that of the numbers, 131 are volunteers, who are contributing to healthcare services; addressing some of the personnel gaps in various communities.
The county currently operates 20 government health facilities, consisting of one referral hospital; two comprehensive health centers, and 17 clinics.
In addition, two privately operated clinics remain functional, bringing the total number of health facilities to 22.
